Local senior all-star baseball players to meet on diamond Saturday

By Mike GegenheimerStaff Writer

Thursday

May 16, 2019 at 9:20 PMMay 16, 2019 at 9:20 PM

The Lafourche Parish All-Stars will be looking for some redemption after last year’s team was crushed 11-0 by their Terrebonne Parish counterparts in the 2018 Terrebonne General Medical Center Community Sports Institute High School Baseball All-Star Classic presented by the Foundation for TGMC.

With one final chance to showcase their skills in a high school setting, the best seniors from around the Houma-Thibodaux area will battle it out at Southland Field in Houma on Saturday in 2019’s version of the game. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. and the game will last a full nine innings.

With a wider group to select from, Terrebonne picks players from Covenant Christian, H.L Bourgeois, South Terrebonne, Vandebilt Catholic, Ellender, Houma Christian School and Terrebonne. Meanwhile, Lafourche picks from just four schools in South Lafourche and Central Lafourche, Thibodaux and E.D White Catholic.

"It’s a great thing they can be recognized for," Lafourche coach Simon Badeaux of Central Lafourche said. "We are hoping to make it a little more competitive than last year, though. Last year was rough."

The challenge for these types of postseason all-star games is always getting a group of players who spent years competing against each other and turning them into teammates in the course of just a few practices.

Fortunately that isn’t often a problem. Badeaux said coaching the players he’s coached against the past four years is what keeps bringing him back to the game.

The other Lafourche coaches are E.D. White’s David Constant and South Lafourche’s Chandler Guidroz.

"It’s a great event in our local area that puts on for these guys," Badeaux said. "I’ve done every year for the past seven years and it’s always been great for the kids. It’s one of the last times a majority of them will play competitive baseball."

Lafourche will be at a slight disadvantage age in quantity of players with only 14 on its roster, including five pitchers. Terrebonne brings 21 players with them, including 10 pitchers.

Teuton, who coaches at Covenant Christian Academy and leads the Terrebonne team, said one of the biggest challenges is making sure all players get plenty of playing time.

"It’s really fun," Teuton said. "For four years you’re coaching against these guys. It’s pretty fun to have them on your team. It just gives these guys one last chance to compete.

"I think we’re pretty fortunate on both sides of Terrebonne and Lafourche. We’ve got a few college signees and some really good seniors participating. It’s a really enjoyable weekend for the players, for the coaches and for the fans. It’s a great way to end the guys’ high school careers. You leave with a good taste in your mouth."